Schizophrenia: Three Moms in the Trenches

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Guest:

Laura Stack, founder and CEO of Johnny's Ambassadors, a non-profit focused on youth THC prevention, discussing the tragic story of her son Johnny who died by suicide at age 19 after experiencing cannabis-induced psychosis.

Scroll to the bottom of show notes for a link to join our family of supporters!

 The discussion covered:

•  the significant differences between today's high-potency THC products (containing 25-40% THC) and historical marijuana use, with Laura explaining that adolescent brain development makes them particularly vulnerable to these effects.
• research showing that 40% of young men who experience cannabis-related psychosis will be diagnosed with schizophrenia within three years, and discussed the challenges of distinguishing between drug-induced psychosis and genuine mental illness. 
• advice to parents about monitoring their adolescent's marijuana use and encouraging listeners to visit Johnny's Ambassadors website for educational resources and support.

Podcast Updates and Upcoming Events

• Upcoming film screening in Minnesota on May 18th (No One Cares About Crazy People) and its availability for pre-order on Apple TV
• Schizophrenia Symposium in Baltimore in June where Randye will speak about involving families in recovery. 
• The podcast is in its sixth season and we’ve been funding the podcast themselves. We’re now able to ask for listener support to help spread the word about the podcast.Supporters will have benefits like the opportunity to participate in “listeners ask” episodes.
• We are working on tagging all episodes to make them easier to search by topic.

Links:

https://johnnysambassadors.org/

Film: https://noonecaresfilm.com/

Schizophrenia Symposium at Johns Hopkins:https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/psychiatry/specialty-areas/schizophrenia/symposium

Bradford Hill Analysis of Causation Applied to Cannabis Use and the Development of Psychotic Disorders: https://johnnysambassadors.org/bradfordhillcip/ 

Mindy and her book: https://mindygreiling.com/

Randye and her book: https://randyekaye.com/

Miriam and her book: https://www.miriam-feldman.com/

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Randye Kaye
Mindy Greiling
Miriam (Mimi) Feldman

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For families and those living with Schizophrenia, words matter. Today, we look at what’s behind the diagnosis, why experts are rethinking it as a neurodevelopmental syndrome—and whether changing the name could change lives. 

This podcast episode focused on rethinking and potentially renaming schizophrenia as a neurodevelopmental syndrome. 

Dr. Matcheri Keshavan (Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston; Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School)

 and Dr. Raquelle Mesholam-Gately (Assistant Professor, Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Co-Director, Recovery in Shared Experiences (RISE) Early Psychosis Program, Cambridge Health Alliance, Cambridge, MA.)

 discussed their research on renaming schizophrenia, with the most popular suggestion being "Altered Perception Syndrome" based on their survey of 1,200 respondents. 

They explained that schizophrenia may be better understood as a spectrum of disorders rather than one condition, with evidence showing developmental brain abnormalities including excessive synaptic pruning in adolescence. 

The experts described how a name change could help reduce stigma, enable earlier detection through biomarkers, and lead to more personalized treatment approaches. They also discussed the historical context of the current name's origins and shared that similar name changes for other conditions like bipolar disorder and autism spectrum disorder have shown positive results in reducing stigma and improving care.

Thanks for liking and sharing the podcast! 

Links: 

Schizophrenia & Psychosis Action Alliance : https://sczaction.org/

Mindy and her book: https://mindygreiling.com/

Randye and her book: https://randyekaye.com/

Miriam and her book: https://www.miriam-feldman.com/

Support the show

Please share and support the podcast so we can reach more people who need the info and support.

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Our websites:
Randye Kaye
Mindy Greiling
Miriam (Mimi) Feldman

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​Creating a Mentally Healthy Nation for All: the APA Foundation 

 (Ep. 137)

A discussion with Dr. Vedrana Hodzic, Director of Fellowships and Medical Education for the American Psychiatric Association Foundation, and Dr. Brendan Ross a psychiatry resident at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. 

The conversation focused on:

•  the APA Foundation's mission to create a mentally healthy nation, with particular emphasis on their community-based mental health programs. 
• Brendan shared his experience working with intensive mobile treatment teams in New York City, which provide mobile psychiatric care to people with severe mental illness in their homes and apartments. 
• Dr. Hodzic discussed the Foundation's work integrating mental health services with faith communities through the Mother Cabrini grant program, which includes training peer navigators and increasing access to mental health care in religious settings. 
• Challenges in psychiatry, including the need for better reimbursement rates for mental health services and strategies for working with families of people with serious mental illness.
•  The guests emphasized the importance of relationship-building and patience in treating individuals with severe mental illness, noting that successful outcomes often require extended periods of trust-building with patients.

Links

https://www.apaf.org/

https://smilrc.org/

https://www.smart911.com/

    link: https://www.psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.pn.2026.02.2.3

Mindy and her book: https://mindygreiling.com/

Randye and her book: https://randyekaye.com/

Miriam and her book: https://www.miriam-feldman.com/

Support the show

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Randye Kaye
Mindy Greiling
Miriam (Mimi) Feldman

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Guest: (returning) Jerri Niebaum Clark

(Episodes 85 and 32 - Ambiguous Loss and Advocacy)

In Gone Before Gone, Clark describes her son’s “death by degrees” during a young adulthood wrecked by severe mental illness.

Surviving a parent’s nightmare led to Clark’s memoir of self-help—a toolkit for living with “ambiguous loss,” a term coined by Pauline Boss, PhD, an academic, author, and long-time family therapist. Trained by Boss herself, Clark has blended Boss’ concepts with her own experiences and the coping skills she’s cultivated as a long-time yoga teacher.

The result is a book like none other. Part memoir, part survival guide, complete with practical exercises .

Quick recap

Jerri Clark explained how she transformed her grief into a practical guide using ambiguous loss theory, applying these concepts specifically to families dealing with severe mental illness, emphasizing that families can heal while still experiencing pain, and challenging common platitudes about grief and strength.

Jerri shared insights about the importance of proper treatment, including clozapine and assisted outpatient treatment, and how families should not be defined solely by their caregiving roles. The episode concluded with all 3 Moms' (Mimi was not able to be there, Jerri is Mom #3)  message that families can live fulfilling lives alongside ongoing grief and advocacy work.

Gone Before Gone book:

https://a.co/d/0gQFqukA

Johns Hopkins Symposium:

https://events.jhu.edu/form/schizophrenia-center-annual-symp

Mindy and her book: https://mindygreiling.com/

Randye and her book: https://randyekaye.com/

Miriam and her book: https://www.miriam-feldman.com/

Support the show

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Our websites:
Randye Kaye
Mindy Greiling
Miriam (Mimi) Feldman

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We’ve discussed FDA barriers to clozapine and side effects of all antipsychotics. Tonight we’ll zero in on Risperdal its producer, Johnson and Johnson, and the FDA. 

First, we’d like to say that for those listeners who are benefitting from Risperdal, the best antipsychotic is one that’s working for you. We’ll be talking about people for whom it’s not working so well.

Our guest for this discussion is Gardiner Harris, author of the NYT bestselling book “No More Tears: The Dark Secrets of Johnson and Johnson.” Mr. Harris, a Yale graduate, is a freelance investigative journalist who was previously an reporter for the WSJ and NYT covering public health and the pharmaceutical industry. 

Most book chapters are exposes of trusted Johnson and Johnson products, from Baby Powder to cancer drugs, and are getting media attention, but we shine a light on the section about Risperdal. 

Questions: 

1. First let’s talk about Risperdal benefit. Tell us about efficacy studies, including the CATIE trial and what they showed about Risperdal. (Dr. Jeffrey Lieberman of Columbia University who led CATIE was a recent guest).
2. How do atypicals compare in price to older drugs like Haldol?
3. What role did J& J and the FDA play in selling them to cash-strapped states? 
4. What are state budget trade-offs?
5. What role did NAMI play? 
6. In this podcast, we mostly focus on adults with schizophrenia and psychosis-spectrum illnesses, but briefly, what was the off-label market (seniors and kids) for Risperdal and why did it take over sales?
7. What role did psychiatrists play?
8. Please talk about gynecomastia. (breasts, lactation)
9. How did whistleblowers and lawyers help to change J & J practices? Why were no executives convicted?
10. Do you have advice for consumers who seek the best medication for themselves or their loved ones?

Links:

book: https://www.amazon.com/No-More-Tears-Secrets-Johnson/dp/0593229878/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0

author: https://gardinerharris.com/

CMS website/Physicians Payment Sunshine act:

https://openpaymentsdata.cms.gov/

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Randye Kaye
Mindy Greiling
Miriam (Mimi) Feldman

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KETO has been in the news - with RFK Jr. claiming it can “cure” schizophrenia.

We have questions and concerns - so we brought in an expert .

Guest:

Dr. Matt Bernstein is a highly respected clinical psychiatrist and a leading voice in metabolic psychiatry, with 25 years of experience helping individuals achieve full mental health and functional recovery.

He also serves as chief medical officer at Ellenhorn, developing community-based strategies to optimize mental health.

For the past five years, Dr. Bernstein has focused on metabolic psychiatry, first in his private practice, and then at Ellenhorn.

Links:

www.accordmh.com

www.linkedin.com/in/mattbernsteinmd

Thanks for liking and sharing the podcast! 

Mindy and her book: https://mindygreiling.com/

Randye and her book: https://randyekaye.com/

Miriam and her book: https://www.miriam-feldman.com/

Support the show

Please share and support the podcast so we can reach more people who need the info and support.

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Randye Kaye
Mindy Greiling
Miriam (Mimi) Feldman

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Guest:Deb Bushong, MS, LPC-S  -  a  licensed therapist for over 20 years.

"Conversations Therapy is focused on the therapeutic work that helps develop youth and young adults who are in the early parts of their journey of living with Psychosis. I offer supports of various kinds for the clients but also support and psychoeducation for the parents, family members, and support systems. The goal is to move these young people towards living a recovery-oriented, fulfilling life!"

We ask questions (and push back a bit on “psychosis can be a gift”) - and share listener questions as well.

Conversations Therapy & Supervision

(469) 727-TALK {call or text}

https://www.conversationstherapy.org

https://linktr.ee/deb_bushong

NAMI Ask the Expert Webinar: 

https://www.nami.org/namis-ask-the-expert/nami-ask-the-expert-roles-in-recovery-part-2-parents/

Randye's substack:

https://randyekaye.substack.com/

1. My daughter thinks we are not her parents, just friends. Is this considered psychosis?
2. Our LO was diagnosed with schizophrenia 2 years ago. He has been so afraid to begin running again for fear the voices will get loud and tell him to stop. Do you have any advice to give him the courage to try the one thing he absolutely loved doing?
3. Advice for a recreation therapist in state hospital. What are the best groups and topics to offer to patients going through the forensic/civil system to prevent readmission/relapse?
4. What to say and not to say to a loved one when they are in psychosis, especially when they cannot recognize that they are having hallucinations.
5. How to help a LO from miles away, while they are in psychosis.
6. -My son laughs a lot and very hearty laughs. But whenever we ask him if he would like to share what the joke is or what’s funny. He says no it’s nothing.Please ask her if she knows if they ever share that information with anyone ? It’s been over 20 years and he still won’t reveal anything.
7. What is the difference between psychosis and delusions? And how long can they last? Untreated… this seems to be a major obstacle to getting treatment.
8. Susan Inman - comment (author of After Her Brain Broke) -An under researched approach is having professionally facilitated, long term, group based psychoeducation about psychotic disorders. My daughter and her friends for the last twenty years had this in a program that no longer exists. I think part of it power was when they saw others in the group who were clearly psychotic not understand that they were ill. I once heard a clinician in a RAISE program raise a similar point.

Thanks for liking and sharing the podcast! 

Mindy and her book: https://mindygreiling.com/

Randye and her book: https://randyekaye.com/

Miriam and her book: 

Support the show

Please share and support the podcast so we can reach more people who need the info and support.

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Randye Kaye
Mindy Greiling
Miriam (Mimi) Feldman

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Guest: Dr. Theresa Miskimen Rivera, APA president 2025-2026

In this episode, we’re joined by the current president of the American Psychiatric Association for a timely conversation on what’s broken—and what’s possible—in mental healthcare. We explore the promise of integrated behavioral healthcare, why treating the whole person matters, and how earlier diagnosis can change lives. Just as important, we shine a light on the often-overlooked plight of caregivers supporting loved ones with schizophrenia and other serious mental illnesses—those doing the hardest work with the least support.

Link:

https://www.psychiatry.org/

Thanks for liking and sharing the podcast! 

Mindy and her book: https://mindygreiling.com/

Randye and her book: https://randyekaye.com/

Miriam and her book: https://www.miriam-feldman.com/

Support the show

Please share and support the podcast so we can reach more people who need the info and support.

Want to know more?
Join our facebook page 
Our websites:
Randye Kaye
Mindy Greiling
Miriam (Mimi) Feldman

Send a Text to the Moms - please include your contact info if you want a response. thanks!

What happens when mental illness collides with broken systems—and no one is prepared to respond?

In Collateral Damage, criminologist and former law enforcement officer Jesse Treviño exposes the catastrophic cost of ignoring mental illness in America’s public systems. Drawing on his own journey through trauma, PTSD, and crisis work, Treviño delivers an unflinching look at how law enforcement, healthcare, and policy too often fail the very people they claim to protect.

We ask about: 

• The myths that fuel stigma and why they keep people from seeking help.
• How the criminal justice system became the de facto mental health system—and why it’s failing.
• Firsthand stories of crisis response, both successful and devastating.
• The truth about the link between mental illness and violence (it’s not what the media tells you).
• Practical lessons for police, policymakers, families, and communities.
• A call to action for compassion, reform, and resilience.

Links:

Collateral Damage: Mental Illness, Public Systems, and the Catastrophic Price of Doing Nothing 

Book:

https://a.co/d/3d3vRb1

Website:

https://solutionpointplus.com/

Support the show

Please share and support the podcast so we can reach more people who need the info and support.

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Randye Kaye
Mindy Greiling
Miriam (Mimi) Feldman

Send a Text to the Moms - please include your contact info if you want a response. thanks!

The "ALL IN FAMILY" website says:

 “When one member of the family is struggling with mental health challenges and/or addiction (dual diagnosis), it impacts every member of the family. At All IN Family, we are here to support you.”

What does that mean? Charlotte Armstrong and Kirsten Drybrough are the co-founders of  All In Family, to fill a need: support for the family of those with serious mental illness (whatever family means to you).

They are peer support workers and want to share what they do, how they can help  - starting with free resources. What can peer support mean for our loved ones- and for us, in the family?

links:

https://www.allinfamily.ca/

https://cafetacenter.net/

[https://www.youtube.com/@allinfamilypeersupport]

[https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwL7P5ESNu6-12kUUJHZl0dDknd8zyfYR] 

Support the show

Please share and support the podcast so we can reach more people who need the info and support.

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Our websites:
Randye Kaye
Mindy Greiling
Miriam (Mimi) Feldman